National recognition for Southern Derbyshire health chiefs

Health chiefs responsible for the care of more than 500,000 patients in Southern Derbyshire have been shortlisted for a national award.

NHS Southern Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is in line for the Board Leadership title, awarded by Health Services Journal.

CCG members will now have to travel to London on Friday 11 October to make a presentation to expert judges and to answer questions.

Winners will then be announced during a glittering ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Tuesday 19 November.

Judges shortlisted the CCG for a string of achievements including:

£32m productivity improvement from services

Better support and quicker treatment for patients with diabetes A new falls prevention service.

The panel was equally impressed that better primary care had seen hospital referrals and urgent care attendances rise by just 0.4 per cent and 1.5 per cent respectively – both well below the national averages.

By working more efficiently, the CCG had made savings of £32m to reinvest in healthcare – equivalent to five per cent of its £617m funding allocation in 2013/14. The CCG’s running costs were exceptionally low at £19 per head of population, which was 32 per cent lower than the £25 national average.

Ninety seven per cent of the CCG’s 57 GP practices had a patient participation group (PPG) while its health panel was made up of more than 300 local patients, PPG members, community leaders and voluntary sector representatives.

Governing Body meetings were open to the public and started with an interview in which a real patient told a personal story and explained how the health service had helped them.

Dr Sheila Newport, Chair of NHS Southern Derbyshire CCG, said:

“Although we’re never complacent, this national recognition shows that we are making excellent progress towards achieving our vision to continuously improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Southern Derbyshire, using all resources as fairly as possible.

“The judges have recognised that we’re building a strong and successful CCG which is working effectively together to improve the quality of healthcare for patients.

“The needs of patients are put first with each member of staff understanding the important role they have to play.

“Achievements to date include a £32m productivity improvement from services, a falls prevention service and improvements in quality of care for people with diabetes.”

Southern Derbyshire is one of the 15 largest CCGs in the country, serving a population of around 525,000 patients through 57 GP practices across the southern half of Derbyshire.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Chair: Dr Sheila Newport Chief Officer: Andy Layzell

NHS Southern Derbyshire CCG represents 57 GP practices and is one of four clinical commissioning groups in the county responsible for the healthcare of people in Derbyshire.